Long gone are the days of an engaged phone line and stuttering images on a computer screen when heading online.

And how consumers use ‘the internet’ has also changed dramatically with households relying on speedy broadband to not only help them access the web but stream television, music and play online games.

Now more than 20,000 homes and business in Stoke-on-Trent are to enjoy ‘some of the fastest broadband speeds available’.

Openreach has announced the next 81 locations which will be upgraded with their ‘ultrafast broadband investment’ which the firm says will provide enough bandwidth for a family of four to all stream ultra HD, 4k quality movies or TV simultaneously.

The speed – upto 330 Mbps – can also help with technology such as Virtual Reality gaming along with broadbands more traditional uses.

Kim Mears, managing director at Openreach, said: “We are delighted to be upgrading our network and extending our ultrafast broadband reach to dozens of new locations across the UK, benefiting hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses.

Faster broadband helps with streaming

“The amount people are doing online, often at the same time, is growing every year and the pace shows no sign of slowing. We understand people need to have a fast and reliable connection at home and at work, and our ultrafast broadband network is at the forefront of making that happen.

“Our engineers are working hard to extend the reach of our network as quickly as possible. We’re building the infrastructure Britain needs to stay ahead in the global digital economy, and it’s great that Stoke-on-Trent is able to benefit from our early work.”

Along with adding speed, ultrafast broadband is said to provide greater capacity meaning that a family can all ‘dial in’ without it impacting on speed.

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The work in the Potteries uses a technology called Gfast, which builds on the existing infrastructure. It changes the way in which broadband signals are transmitted to make them ‘ultrafast’ without roads being drug up and new cabling installed.

It is estimated that in Staffordshire more than 95 per cent of homes and businesses are said to have access superfast broadband with speeds of speeds of 24Mbps and above.

The works have been welcomed in the Potteries where experts and business leaders say it’s crucial North Staffordshire keeps pace in the digital age.

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Khawar Hameed is senior lecturer in the department of computing at Staffordshire University.

Khawar, who is a member of the British Computer Society, said: “We are living and working in the digital economy and most of what we do is through a screen.

“It is self-fulfilling as the more we can do the more we want to do. We can now work from anywhere as long as we have a connection and it’s about having that infrastructure.

“It is important to enable capacity as people are doing more things at the same time and will switch quickly between different devices.

“From a business point of view it’s important that Stoke-on-Trent is well positioned in this digital economy.”

Sara Williams has welcomed the upgrade

Sara Williams, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “The business community in Stoke-on-Trent will welcome the announcement that they are to benefit from improved broadband connectivity.

“We know that fast, effective and reliable broadband is needed to grow and succeed, and the city already benefits from great connectivity and this improved reliability will greatly benefit the businesses here.”

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However Sara says work must continue to address areas lacking in mobile phone coverage. She added: “While this addition to the cities digital infrastructure will go a long way to fixing the fundamentals of doing business in Stoke-on-Trent, a further plan is required to rid the mobile phone ‘not spots’ along our road and rail corridors. As a Chamber we will continue to lobby ministers and infrastructure providers to develop our digital connectivity.”